Norway in a Nutshell

Known as the most expensive country in the world (more so than Japan and England), Jan and I were hesitant to select Norway as one of the destinations of our trip. For awhile, we were even contemplating Estonia.  But with more research and pretty convincing Norwegian friends, we made Norway our second stop after Sweden.

From Gothenburg, Jan and I took the 4 hour train to Oslo, where we had just about 24 hours to sightsee, explore the city, catch up with old friends, check out Oslo’s nightlife scene and catch our next train to tour the fjords.

Oslo in a Nutshell:

Strategically planned to be as efficient as possible and see as much as possible, our first stop from the Central Station was to head up the hill of Karl Johans Gate, past Domkirke Cathedral to Stortinget Parliament building to Det Kongelige Slott, the Royal Palace.  We went through the Palace’s garden and some of Oslo’s most premium real estate until we reached Vigelandsparken, the infamous outdoor sculpture park by Gustav Vigeland displaying massive sculptures including a 20m high obelisk of nude bodies atop one another. This was not only impressive from an artistic standpoint, it portrayed nudity in a way that caught me by surprise. The park was filled with sculptures of nudity, yet it was not at all sexual, but rather deeply humanistic. He portrayed very expressive and emotional depictions of children with their parents, elders, people playing, fighting, teaching, loving, eating and sleeping. My personal favorites were the little pot-bellied toddlers, including the local favorite – Sinnataggen (The Angry Child).

After a picnic lunch in Vigelandsparken, we quickly toured the Viking Ships Museum, the Akerhus Festning Castle, and climbed to the top of the very modern new Opera House, offering a lovely view of the Oslo harbor.

From there, we made our final stop in a local grocery store before we had the best home-cooked meal of our trip: fresh Norwegian crabs and the biggest serving of fresh salmon I’ve ever seen.

Photos from our day of adventure and sights in Oslo:

After dinner, we caught the train back into the city to check out Oslo nightlife on the east side of town, where we were educated in the new trend in Scandinavia: Snus. Rather than suffering the series consequencesof smoking cigarettes, everyone chooses to use Snus, moist powder tobacco in little packages that you place under your lip.  Believe it or not, this product was validated and recommended by none other than Oslo Med students.

**Without our dear friend Jorund, none of this would have been possible.  Jorund took us in to stay at his parent’s spectacular 200 year old home, where all heating is still from furnishes and they bake their own bread.  Thank you for being a perfect host, for such a special dinner with your family and a great night out with your friends.

Norwegian Fjords in a Nutshell:

In considering our limiting time in Norway, Jan and I signed up for a trip called Norway in a nutshell, which organized transportation through some of Norway’s most beautiful fjord scenery. Through this trip, we experienced the Bergen Railway, the Flam Railway, the Aurlandsfjord, the narrow Naeroyfjord and the steep bends of Stalheimskleiva.  We liked this trip because it got us from point A to point B without any hassle of signing up with any tour groups or guides. It gave us freedom to come and go as we pleased.

At 6am, Janice and I got up to catch our 8am train from Oslo to Myrdal, where we changed trains to reach Norway’s beautiful waterfalls and fjords from Myrdal to Flam, then took a ferry from Flam to Gudvangen, and finally the bus from Gudvangen to Voss, traveling Stalheinskleiva, the 1.5km long stretch of road that twists 13 times up a mountain.

Upon reaching the home of prestine Norwegian water, the adventure town of Voss, Jan and I checked in to the Park Hotel, one of the nicest hotels in town and spent the next day hiking and exploring the town’s location surrounded by snow-capped mountains, forests, lakes and white water rivers, making this place a center for extreme sports.

**Shout out to Andreas for your ridiculous generosity for arranging our stay at the Park Hotel!  Soo sooo nice!!  Voss was incredibly beautiful and such a wonderful, naturally exquisite experience.  See you soon in Beijing!!

From Voss, we traveled the last leg of the trip to arrive at our final destination, Bergen.

Bergen in a Nutshell:

Bergen, known as the Gateway to the Fjords and a World Heritage City, is an international city full of history and tradition, a city with small-town charm and atmosphere.

Bergen truly is such an incredibly beautiful city with so much character and so much life, but one big warning:  it does not stop raining! It rains on average 260 days a year and it rained off and on every day of our visit.

Up until this point, Jan and I had been pretty blessed in terms of the amount of sunshine and good weather…until Bergen.  And of course Eric did not own an umbrella (since umbrellas are for sissies?).

Luckily, Jan and I arrived in Bergen without rain on a Thursday night aka Student Night, which is quite a big night out in Bergen.  Eric and his Norwegian friend planned a night out on the town, hitting up at least 5 different bars/lounges before we arrived to our favorite destination: The Scotsman.  What a scene!  And the best part about it was that the entertainment was a one-man-show!

After a great night out, we spent the next two days touring around Bergen. While there is so much to see and do in Bergen, Jan and I ended up spending most of our time waiting out the rain in coffee shops picking Eric’s brain and learning more about Norwegian culture and lifestyle.  Good thing Bergen’s got an abundance of quality coffee and sandwich shops serving hot chocolate and pastries.

A few very memorable activities we did – The Unriken643 Panoramic Tour, which took us by cable car to the highest of Bergen’s famous ‘Seven Mountains’. Once the rain and clouds did clear, we had a spectacular view of the scenery and mountain terrain 643 meters above the city streets.

The next day, we took the Fløibanen, a ride to the top of Mount Fløyen (altitude 320 m), offering a magnificent view over Bergen and the suburbs. It was also where we explored the legendary home of the trolls, which was very funny in spite of it being so muddy from all the rain.

One of my favorite stops was exploring Bryggen and checking out Torget, Bergen’s infamous open-air fish market where we ate WHALE! (After which Janice was on a mission to find a shirt saying, “I ate whale in Norway”.) Without much luck, she settled for some Norwegian keychains.

**Shout Out: Eric, you were a phenomenal host and tour guide despite your lack of umbrellas.  Thank you for your time, your couch, your fascinating stories (my favorite time was by far ‘story time’), and most of all, your company.  You were so much fun, and it was so great to catch up.  If I don’t see you back in Sac-tizzle, I hope you will make a trip to visit Beijing!

Reasons Why the Rest of the World Should Aspire to be More like Sweden

I spent one week in Sweden and I am truly impressed.

Sweden is a beautiful country with beautiful people and I am so completely enamored by their attitudes, their culture, their food, their way of life.  To experience it firsthand was both refreshing and inspirational.

I think we could all learn a little something from Sweden.  I know I have.

1. People are courteous, helpful and polite. Worst case: they can come off a bit cold and difficult to approach. Best case: They are respectful, down-to-earth, and if anything, I think it’s better to be cautious than too forward.

2. People are conscious and respectful of each other and the environment. They embrace their surroundings and they do not take it for granted. They make a conscious effort to not litter, waste, or pollute.

3. They find a balance between luxury/wealth and simplicity/peace.

4. They choose to spend their summer holidays doing manual labor, chopping wood, building boats, exploring islands picking berries and gardening.

5. They spend as much time as possible outdoors, under the sun.  Their brains are not rotted and consumed by television and computers.

6. They are knowledable about their natural resources.  Many Swedes can name most trees, flowers, and plants that grow in Sweden.

7. They all drink tap water. (In our defence, their tap water is exceptionally pure and refreshing)

8. Highly sought after property (the real estate in most demand) is passed from generation to generation and priority is given to family or family friends over the highest bidder.

9. They choose to preserve their historical, renaissance architecture rather than building skyscrapers and conforming to modern design.

10. The best coffee shops and restaurants are cozy, rustic and with so much character.

11. They eat healthy. And their food is delicious.

12. They are innovative and resourceful.  Just think IKEA.  I rest my case.

13. They have Kaviar in a tube, among other cheese flavors in a tube ready to spread. I love that cheese is a large part of their daily diet.

14.  Everyone eats ice cream all the time and it is accessible and visible everywhere.

15. BIK BOK & Gina Tricot

….Ok, now I’m just getting side-tracked.  Here is my final point:

As a society, Sweden advocates team work and a collaborative effort in terms of upholding the law, preserving the environment, and sustaining their standards of sophistication and consideration towards one another.

Made in Sweden

Whenever I travel to a foreign country, I make it a point to visit the local grocery store and uncover all the local gems and goodies that I have never been exposed to before.

Only in a grocery store can you discover-  1. What locals eat and a little more about their dining culture and, 2. The largest variety and selection of goods for the best prices.

From Cheese to Filmjilk and Yoggi to baked breads and desserts to specialty candies & chocolates to fresh fruits and seafood, here are some of the Swedish Goodies Jan & I discovered along the way (and couldn’t get enough of):

Gör Brá

Göteborg's Coat of Arms

After spending more time than originally planned in Stockholm, we were determined to see at least one other destination in Sweden before heading off to Norway.

It just so worked out that my dear friend Amanda had recently moved to Göteborg (aka Gothenburg) and had both room and time to spare to spend with us.

After a 5 hour train ride from Stockholm, we arrived in Göteborg to discover a different side of Sweden.  Still stylish, still beautiful, but this time, with a lot more character.   Different architecture, different fashion, different vibe.

Where everything and everyone in Stockholm was clean cut and picturesque, Göteborg had an edge.  And I liked it.

Amanda is the definition of a perfect host.  In the two days and two nights we spent in her city, she spent it all with us – taking us on a walking tour of the city and also Marstrand, one of the most famous towns on the Bohuslän coast, where we visited the grand and majestic Carlsten’s Fortress.

Amanda accompanied us to explored the sights, she introduced us to all traditional Swedish goodies and staple foods (Swedish meatballs, pickled herring, and delightful snacks), she cooked us dinners, she handmade desserts from scratch, and she introduced me to Swedish nightlife. Awesome.

Although our time was brief, Göteborg gave me a better grasp of Sweden.  It was so different from Stockholm, and it made more sense to me.  Stockholm was just mind-blowing in terms of how picture perfect everything was.  In retrospect, it’s as if it was a dream.

As lovely as the architecture and landscape in Göteborg was, everything seemed more real than Stockholm.  The vibe was more relaxed, more casual, more untailored. Almost grundgy in comparison to Stockholm, I even saw a few Emo Swedes in Göteborg.

It was comforting to see this side of Sweden and I’m so happy I did.  And it only encouraged me to want to see more.

Here are some snapshots of Göteborg:

Snapshots of Marstrand Island:

Shout Outs:

Amanda, I can’t tell you enough how grateful I am to you for the outstanding experience in both Göteborg and Marstrand.  You were such a perfect host.  Thank you so much for the home-cooked meals and for introducing us to all the amazing Swedish desserts! I had so much fun with you at Kingshead, next time we’re going to hit up Avenyn.

Markus, I was so happy that you came to meet us. It was delightful reminiscing on all those parties and Great Wall Camping Trip from our first year in Beijing.  I wish you all the best in your remaining years at University!

You are both more than welcome ANYTIME to visit me in Beijing.  Just tell me when and I’ll have a couch with your name on it.

More Than What Meets The Eye

Lucky for me and my travel buddy Janice, we were not drowning in this sea of tall blondes. We were fortunate enough

Our Sailing Boat, built by Svante's father. Amazing

to have swim floaties – our generous friends living in Stockholm, who went above and beyond our expectations, taking the time to show us around, providing us a place to stay and invaluable insight to Swedish customs and social norms.

After a few days of wandering the streets of Stockholm, exploring and sampling what the city has to offer, Janice and I were presented with the golden opportunity to go sailing to the outer archipelago islands with my friend Svante and his brother, Eskil.

On this trip, Janice and I discovered some fascinating information and interesting fun facts about Swedish lifestyle and culture.

1. Most Swedes not only know how to sail, but many of them also build their own boats.  SO impressive
2. Swedes often spend their holidays at their summer home on the various archipelago islands, where they choose to escape city life to enjoy a simple and mundane lifestyle living on an island without plumbing, walking to the local well to pump water, chopping their own wood, and often without electricity.
3. Children spend their days exploring the islands and hunting for berries.  The ‘coolest kid in the garden’ was
   

   Sunset on the Island with our Sailing Boat

   always the most knowledgeable berry and flora gatherer. While there were many berries, many look

   

   Gathering Berries on the Island

   dangerously alike the poisonous ones.  Good thing I was accompanied by THE Coolest Kid in the Garden aka Svante.

4. The archipelago islands are full of various berries and beautiful flowers.  On the island we explored, Rödlöga Island, Svante introduced me to over ten types of berries we came across on our exploration from blueberries, raspberries, goose berries (red & green), cherries, odon, crow berries, cassis (black currant), lingon berries, red currant, and blue raspberries.  AWESOME.
5. Swedes are very particular about any “invasion of personal space,” meaning that it is against social norms to speak to a stranger without a good excuse.  For example, it would be considered very odd for a stranger to randomly strike up a conversation with you. An ice breaker is required– i.e., like you drop a book and someone picks it up and then you thank them. Hence, one of my favorite phrases “Always Scheming Swedes” – which is absolutely necessary to create elaborate schemes just to meet someone without giving a bad impression. In the way most Swedes keep to themselves and to their close group of friends, I quote my friend Jenny – “It’s something in our Viking blood that makes us this way – even me.”
6. Swedes are not only crafty and innovative, they are efficient and handy.  As labor is beyond expensive in Scandinavia, Swedes fix everything themselves.
7. Swedish men can cook a mean meal.  From the little stove on our boat, the two brothers cooked up an unbelievably impressive dinner– lamb sausages with mushroom risotto.  SO Bomb.
8. My new favorite Swedish breakfast: Filmilk with Applemouse and Cornflakes.  (Filmilk is a hybrid between yogurt and milk.)  Excellent to complement the other ingredients and a perfect way to start a day.

This 2-day adventure was the highlight of my trip, memories I will always cherish and smile upon.

Sailing the High Seas

Janjan in chill mode

Eskil, Svante's brother and a damn good sailor/chef

Svante aka THE Coolest Kid in the Garden

Shout Outs:

Thank you to Jenny and your lovely family for your warm hospitality and for welcoming us in your home. You have the most charming home and your parents are so sweet. Thank your Mom for the elaborate crayfish dinner.  It was so special and I was honored to be a part of such a wonderful Swedish tradition.

Thank you to Svante and Eskil for taking us on such an exciting adventure. It was the best part of my trip and I will always treasure the memories of the four of us trekking to your summer home, sailing the high seas, exploring the island, hearing about your childhood and learning about the berries we gathered and devoured.  You were right, it was an once-in-a-lifetime experience and I owe it all to you both.

In a Sea of Tall Blondes

Wow.  What a breath of fresh air; a sight for sore eyes!

In Stockholm, Sweden, I find myself in a city with bright blue skies, rustic and colorful architecture, ocean all around, lush green hills, narrow alleyways, medieval streets, castles and fortresses, and cozy, quaint homes with pointy roofs.

Stockholm, Sweden

As I wander through the cobbled streets, I am surrounded by gorgeous girls who are all impeccably dressed, all about skin tight jeans. And not to mention the sophisticated, beautiful blonde men…who also wear skin tight jeans.

Drottingholm Palace, Residence of the Swedish Royal Family

People are present all around , but it’s not crowded. Children and teenagers spend their afternoons on the benches in parks and swinging from swings made from wood and rope. People are polite.  No one  jay walks until the light turns green. The Swedish language is so melodic, it sounds like they sing when they speak. And as Sweden is a constitutional monarchy, they have a royal family.  Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses, castles and palaces, it all seems so medieval in this modern day and age.

As I sit outside a charming coffee shop and people-watch, I am dumbfounded.

Maybe I’m just suffering from a temporary case of culture shock coming straight from Beijing, but I am in awe of Swedish people – not just in the way they look and dress, but the way they carry themselves, their interactions, their customs, and most of all, their lifestyle.

I can’t help but wonder.  I am determined to satisfy my curiosity and learn more about what you can’t learn from reading a textbook or a guidebook.

In this quest for answers, what will I discover along the way? Is Sweden more than what meets the eye?  I want to understand more about this country with beautiful people, delicious meatballs and IKEA.

What do Swedish people like to do? What do they think about China, the US, the rest of the world? Does their world revolve around Scandanavia or do they ache to move away and live abroad?

Lovely Cafe in Gamla Stan

In a place so beautiful with eye candy all around, I would be so perfectly content to sit right here, at this coffee shop. Indefinitely.

My 15 Minutes of Fame Just Got Extended

Not everyone gets the rare opportunity to relive their 15 minutes of fame. Hence, the reason why it’s only 15 minutes.

But tonight I was called upon to come back into the limelight.

Let me rewind:

Back in December 2008, I was featured as one of City Weekend’s Fashionistas.  This was by far one of the coolest things I’ve been lucky enough to partake in.  Not only was I featured in a full double-page spread in the magazine, I got a full make-over courtesy of the beautiful and talented Meili Autumn, who has a gift of making you look and feel stunning.

You can check out the final product here (City Weekend, Issue December 4-17):

FASHIONISTA: Beauty and the Bling

Kristen Lum lights up any room she occupies with her electric personality and 1000-watt smile. I just can never feel down or bluesy around her. She makes me want to giggle like a sixth grader during a sex-ed talk. Another thing Kristen has got going for her is a super cute figure, which often sports the shortest, brightest dresses I’ve seen in Beijing: trés sexy. As the PR girl for hot spots like Bling, All Star and newbie to the scene Domus, Kristen has her plate full of venues she has to look stunning in on a nightly basis. How does she do it night after flawless night? “The trick is to have a ‘go-to dress,’ something you can slip on and look great in no matter what the occasion,” she confides in me. Kristen finds these little numbers at Zara, in the Solana Lifestyle Shopping Park or American Apparel. For mini dresses and high heels, her secret place is LingLing’s shop in Jiayi Vogue Square stall #712. As a born and bred Cali girl, Kristen loves the summertime look: “beach wear, bright colors, being tan, sundresses and flip-flops.” Since coming to Beijing, she has had to learn to adapt to the cold, and while you’ll still find her at Bling on the weekends wearing tiny skirts and dresses, she’ll compensate for the length with thigh-high boots. “China’s really given me an opportunity to express myself through fashion. I love knowing that I can go out and never feel over-dressed.” Kristen leaves me with some parting words: “Now that I work at Bling, I’m all about the bling.” With that bright smile, and glittering jewelery, I consider Kristen one of Beijing’s fashion diamonds.

MeiLi Autumn

Name: Kristen Lum

Nationality: Californian

Occupation: Marketing and Media Director for Alchemy

Fashionista by MeiLi Autumn For more style analysis or fashion insight, visit MeiLi’s website,

www.MeiLiAutumn.com

Photographer: Tao Zi Hair and Makeup: MeiLi Autumn

About a year since I did the photoshoot for my Fashionista feature, I received an e-mail invitation tonight to participate in the upcoming FASHIONISTA Party, featuring a fashion show with all previous CW Fashionistas, for a chance to win the title Mr. or Ms. Beijing Fashionista and a VIP card to Hotel G for a night’s stay in this fabulous boutique hotel.

Save the date- Saturday, September 19, 2009 because I have a feeling that with all the Fashionistas together in one show, this event is bound to go down in the books…or at least go down in the next issue of CityWeekend.

See?  The fame is already getting to my head. And I can’t wait.

Come out and show your support and vote for your favorite fashionista.  Or just come out to Hotel G and take advantage of their 25rmb drinks and awesome tapas/cheese platters.

Happy Birthday to…Everybody!

There’s something about August.  The past two weeks have been filled with birthday parties for everyone and their mother.

First, it was All-Star’s 1 Year Birthday on August 5th and then Bling’s 1 Year Birthday Weekend on August 7 & 8th.

Yesterday, August 15th, it was not only Hatsune‘s 8 Year Birthday Celebration at both branches, it was also Block 8‘s GM, Xixi Cheng’s birthday (a surprise party at Karaiya followed by a party at the Beach), and All-Star/Bling‘s owner, Ken Li’s birthday party at Bling, obviously.

Yesterday’s parties were off the hook, and today we celebrated Ken’s actual birthday.  Ken hosted his dinner party at Todai, which was fitting since his friends are all giants who can really make the most of this gargantuan buffet.  Todai was perfect for everyone to get together and gorge on a buffet that has something for everyone…and then some.

I was grateful to be a included in Ken’s birthday celebrations as he is someone I have always respected and looked up to (both figuratively and literally, he’s super tall). HAPPY BIRTHDAY to KENDOGG!!  Just Like That.

Julia, Ken & I at Todai

Ken with his Mama & 4 Birthday Cakes

*On the topic of Birthdays, it will be my 25th Birthday on September 8!  Stay posted on my birthday plans, and save the date for Saturday, September 12th for my birthday shenanigans and debauchery. Details TBA.

Review of Todai: Described as “the mother of all seafood buffets”, Todai is one of the largest buffets I’ve encountered featuring everything from salad and appetizers, pasta, pizza, sushi and seafood, teppanyaki grill, HK BBQ, dim sum, noodles, shark fin soup section, Indian & Tandoori section, and a massive dessert selection including crepes, outstanding fresh juice joint, wine section, and much, much more. RMB 198 per person for weekday lunch, RMB 258 per person for dinner.

Best Part:

• The HUGE Snow Crab Legs were the main attraction (don’t forget to ask for melted butter to dip)
• The Teppanyaki Grill selection serves up great filets and foie gras
• The Creme Brulees are shockingly well-done
• The crepes and souffles for dessert are amazing with the rich chocholate from the chocolate fondue!

Comments:

• Not impressed by the quality or taste of the sashimi or sushi rolls (I’m too spoiled by Hatsune)
• A place for people interested in quantity over quality – there was very little that was worth even trying
• If you want a solid buffet that serves everything your palate desires, then I recommend the Senses in the Westin, Financial Street.  You can also find here a list of the Top Weekend Brunch Buffets in Town.

Solana, No. 6 Chaoyang Park Road, Chaoyang Park – Northwest gate, next to Starbucks Coffee
朝阳公园路6号蓝色港湾商业区亮马食街

5905-6888

DimSum YumYum

It’s crazy how different Chinese food in China is compared to the Chinese food abroad.  As a Chinese American growing up in California, I only thought of the difference between the greasy Chinese food you get take-out for super cheap compared to the scrumptious, healthy food my mom and grandmom cooked at home for dinner.

I was so ignorant before I moved to China. I had no idea there were so many different provinces, each with their own unique and specialized cuisine.  In essence, I always thought Chinese food was Cantonese food.

I had no idea I’d come to China and find the food here so foreign to my palate and how sorely mistaken my preconceptions of Chinese food were.  My favorite Chinese food from America is pretty much non-existant here in China and the local food here is rare to find in the US.  I may know of some restaurants that serve some Sichuan food, but Hunan?  Yunan? Xinjiang? Ah, the list continues.  I think the closest thing to Gong Bao Ji Ding (宫爆鸡丁) is probably General’s Chicken – and that’s totally different!

My parents find it hilarious that the first thing I want when I get back to the US is dimsum.  Growing up, my family and I always had dimsum brunch at least once a week, so I would definitely consider dimsum a staple food I know by heart and love to eat.

I know there are a ton of places to get dimsum in China, but it’s all either super expensive in a hotel (which I find overrated) or just not up to par with my standards growing up (I hate Jin Ding Xuan).  I have yet to find one place that’s got the right balance of value, quality and service.

This is as close as it gets:

1. Lei Garden 利苑 - Recommended by a friend for their good quality DimSum Brunch

Best Part:

• Very good quality DimSum, definitely up to my standards
  

  3 orders of Dan Tas at Lei Garden

• Favorites: Cha Shao Bao, Luobuo Gao, & Dan Tas for Dessert (see photo here)
• Pretty packed and nice buzzing atmosphere (always a good sign when a place is full)
• Nice, clean environment, good hygiene

Comments:

• I highly recommend booking ahead for a reservation, they said the wait was over an hour for those without a reservation.  Lucky we came prepared.
• I know DimSum is meant to be small, but these portions were extra mini
• About RMB 150 per person (on the pricier side)
• The AC was on full blast – way too cold, but it was nice that they offered a shawl to wear, which nearly everyone in the restaurant was wearing
• The menu was not only written only in Chinese, it was most an odd mix of both traditional and simplified characters
• They won’t give you smaller bills in change to divide among the group (as with most Chinese restaurants – such a pet peeve).

3/F, Jinbao Tower, 89 Jinbao Jie, Wangfujing – beside The Regent Hotel
金宝街89号金宝大厦3层 丽金酒店东侧

8522-1212

2. Zen5es – located in the Westin Chaoyang, I was interested after reading about their Simply Dim Sum Specials and their award-winning chef Joyce Zhu. 

Best Part:

• I’m normally against hotel F&B outlets, but Zen5es in the Westin has a great dimsum deal going on: Simply Dim Sum Lunch – RMB 88 for all-you-can-eat dim sum available for lunch during the week, and Simply Dim Sum Brunch – RMB 168 for two people every weekend for brunch.
• Clean, easy to use bilingual menu with an extensive selection of dimsum available
• Great quality dimsum
• Nice space &  friendly staff

Comments:

• The space was pretty quiet when I went for lunch during the week for a business lunch
• While their dim sum was great, I recommend a pass on the noodle dishes, which were massive and quite bland.
• This photo is obviously an exaggeration of what you receive, in reality, the presentation of all dim sum dishes is quite normal with either the round steam baskets or white porcelain mini dishes.

4F, The Westin Beijing Chaoyang, No. 1 Xinyuan Nan Road,  Sanlitun
Yan Sha Qiao of 3rd Ring Road
金茂北京威斯汀大饭店4层，朝阳区新源南路1号

5922-8880

**I’m always happy to try new places, so I welcome any suggestions and recommendations here! 

The Best of the Nightlife Worlds

Tonight Hatsune celebrated its 8 Year Anniversary, and what a celebration it was! 

The evening started off with a kick-ass dinner party at the original Hatsune – all you can eat and drink sake for only 200rmb, (which booked out within 3 hours of me sending out the notification! – Definitely a record for the quickest sold-out event.)

Afterwards, the celebration continued with the official party at Hatsune in Sanlitun Village, with all-you-can-drink cocktails and sake plus more sushi for 100rmb. Let’s not forget the acrobat performances, which were jaw-dropping.  Unreal.  I wish I had photos to post, but must’ve skipped my mind in my state of shock.

The breakdown: About 70 (out of the 150) dinner guests came for more of the Hatsune goodness along with another 250 Hatsune Sushi Samurais.

Packed Out

The result: A stunning fusion of beautiful people letting loose and getting crunk. With the massive sake wells, flowing cocktails, sushi samplers, acrobat amusement, and all the old school hits, this was something exceptional. It felt like a combination of the best vibes and crowds from Punk, Block 8, and Bling – all together at the same time.

Break it down Ella

Alan Wong, the Master Sushi Samurai

My favorite photo of the night

Kelly Olver, My fav Aussie chick

Jen's got the magnum and I've got cheese

Today was a reason to celebrate. Since 2001 when the original Hatsune on Guanghua Lu first opened to the 5 additional restaurants Alan has opened, things have come a long way.

On behalf of Alan and the Hatsune Team, I sincerely thank you for your continued support and for making Hatsune a Beijing legend.

Thanks to everyone for the great turn-out and for making this such a memorable event!

*Note to self: After the opening party and this 8 year anniversary, Hatsune should seriously consider doing this regularly.

“Xiu 秀” without the “Shui 水”

Tonight, Park Hyatt’s Xiu Bar hosted a Bikini Fashion Show by Habinki. After arriving around 10:30pm to see a bunch of chippendale shirtless muscle men, I was expecting the fashion show to be something god-awful. But to my surprise, the production, the bikini product, the models, and the turn-out was very well done and executed.

Xiu's Outdoor Patio

And the place was packed.  When I arrived, there was already a line at the entrance, every outlet of Xiu was filled including the two outdoor patios, the dance floor was packed, it’s no wonder everyone is talking about Xiu being Beijing’s newest hotspot to see and be seen.

And I’ve got to give it to them, the design of this huge space is impeccable – segregating various sections, each design catering to a different market, providing something for everyone’s tastes and comfort.  From its cozy whiskey lounge, to its cool vodka bar, massive rectangular main bar perfect for people watching, lively but cheesy pop band, and my personal favorite – the outdoor patio incorporating traditional Chinese architecture in the midst of a cosmopolitan backdrop.

Review of Xiu 秀:   The Park Hyatt’s trendy new lounge, Beijing’s newest hot-spot to see and be seen.

Best Part:

• Ingenius design and use of space
• Two massive outdoor patios incorporating elements of traditional and modern, perfect for lounging
• Consistently full, even on the weekdays
• A diverse and international crowd
• A gigantic main bar with lighting perfect for people watching

Comments:

• The band is talented, but pretty cheesy and they repeat the same songs over and over
• The music is way too loud in the main bar, making it impossible to have a conversation without yelling

Park Hyatt Beijing, F/6, 2 Jianguomenwai Street
北京柏悦酒店, 建国门外大街2号6楼

8567-1108

A Tour of the Hatsune Empire

For the past two summers, Alan will take on 3 interns from UNC (University of North Carolina), who will spend two months in an entrepreneurship program to learn about start-up companies and the F&B industry in China.  Through this program, the interns get an inside scoop “behind the scenes” of Alan’s restaurants, from spending time in the kitchen, behind the bar, greeting customers at the reception, and eventually serving tables.  And once a week, we all get together to attend Alan’s lectures to raise discussions pertaining to the F&B industry, doing business in China, and also to learn from him and his successful business models and effective management style.

Each of the three interns were posted in different venues, and with each venue, the interns made a strong effort to invest themselves and make the most of this unique opportunity- proactive, motivated, and helpful.

As this was their last week in China, we inadvertently found ourselves on a tour of the Hatsune Empire.

Monday: We started off the week with dinner at Hatsune (Sanlitun Village) and ordered all of our favorites: the G-Roll (a pimped out Moto-roll-ah available on Alan’s secret menu), Steak Rossini, Sake Gohan (Salmon Fried Rice), Dynamite Roll, Hatsune Salad, Spicy Tuna Hand Rolls, and the Rina Roll.

Hatsune's Famous Sushi Rolls

Tuesday: Karaiya Spice House. Conveniently located across from Hatsune in the Village, the interns wanted to try everything else on the menu they didn’t get to try the first time around.  I highly recommend the Signature Fish, Signature Ribs, Bullfrog in a flaming mini wok, Spicy Pepper Diced Rib-eye, and Foie Gras Fried Rice.

Karaiya's Signature Ribs

Spicy Pepper Diced Rib-eye

Wednesday: Haiku by Hatsune‘s “Become a Sake Samurai” Sake Tasting Dinner Party. Their last day working, Alan invited them to join his sake tasting dinner party of 45 people including a 7 course Haiku tasting menu and an introduction to 4 different sake from Alan’s personal collection.

The Dinner Menu:

1. Assorted Japanese Tapas

Haiku Sushi Bar

2. Tuna Tataki Salad

3. Yakitori Moriawase: roasted chicken wing, yakitori skewer, beef & zucchini, miso pork

4. Tempura with Prawn and Vegetables with Nori sea salt dip

5. Mini Oden: fish cakes, daikon radish and quail egg broiled in a traditional dashi soup

6. Assorted Haiku Sushi Rolls: a sample of 3 of Haiku’s best selling rolls

7. Ice Cream & Fruit Dessert

Sake Tasting List:

1. Shiro Yuki- This was the “normal” sake that we had.  We sell it as a hot sake in Haiku.  Of all the normal, or futsuu, sakes, this one proved to be very smooth and light.

2. Komeshizuku Junmai- This sake has a strong flavor on the palate, and is considered by me a banana and pear fruit bomb.  Each rice grain is polished down to 60% of the original size, which almost qualifies it as a Junmai Ginjo.

3. Kakurei Junmai Ginjo- This sake is from Niigata, a region well known for sake production because of the superior water quality.  It is milled down to 55% of the original rice grain, and has strong fruit and a hint of mint character on the palate.

4. Shotoku Junmai Daiginjo- This sake is milled to 45%, yields strong pear and yogurt flavors, and is the smoothest and thickest in viscosity.

“Keep in mind that some of these sakes are not available in the restaurants, but the main idea is to grasp the difference between the various qualities of taste and production.  Hatsune and Haiku have an extensive sake list so I encourage you to try some out and compare, looking for the taste qualities that you have experienced at the sake course.” – Alan Wong

Thursday: The Interns’ last night on the job, I organized a dinner for them at my personal favorite: Kagen Teppanyaki. A place they had only observed and always wanted to sample, this was the perfect place for their last night. My personal favorite: The Surf N Turf & The UpperEast Side Set Dinner (includes appetizer sampler, sashimi sampler, salad or soup, hibachi shrimp, teppanyaki fried rice, vegetables and fresh fruit with carmelized bananas.)   In the biggest private room, Alan and Hannah brought baby Mason to join the party!

Kagen Teppanyaki

Still to come for me:

Friday: 2nd Round of Haiku’s “Become a Sake Samurai” Sake Tasting with 2nd group of 50 pax.

Saturday: Hatsune’s 8 Year Anniversary Party with private dinner party in the Original Hatsune (Guanghua Lu) and Official 8 Year Party at the new Hatsune (Sanlitun Village) for an all-you-can-drink plus sushi samplers and appetizers for 100rmb. Party kicks off at 10pm.

Recap:

The Moto-Roll-ah at Hatsune = 75rmb. Karaiya’s Signature Ribs = 95rmb. Haiku’s 7-course Sake Tasting Dinner Party = 200rmb. Kagen Teppanyaki’s UpperEast Side = 230rmb. Hatsune’s 8-Year Anniversary Party all-you-can-drink deal = 100rmb.

A Week Tour of the Hatsune Empire: Priceless

Giving Beijing An Excuse to Party

I’ve heard a lot of people make comments about this summer in Beijing. For the few of us remaining who weren’t lucky enough to get away and travel abroad, we’ve been stuck to deal with an absurd amount of rain (I swear it only rained a total of 2 times my first year in Beijing from 2006-2007) and an overall unusually quiet summer. I guess it’s only natural that the year after the epic 2008 Olympics, Beijing’s summer 2009 is bound to seem quiet in comparison without the additional hordes of tourists, athletes, events, games, hype, and Olympic parties.

While it’s no surprise when it’s empty out during Beijing’s bitter cold winter nights, I’d expect a lot more people to spend their summer evenings out dining, drinking, enjoying the summer heat. But people seem just as content going home early to watch a DVD in the summer as they do in winter.

But is it quiet because people compare this summer to last year’s Olympic madness? Or is it quiet because many people have left Beijing for summer vacation? Or is it quiet because people are just waiting for a reason to come out?

The answer is probably a combination of all three, but from what I’ve seen in the past two weeks, there are plenty of people here in Beijing who are just waiting for something worth their time to bring them out of their monotonous daily routine and give them an excuse to party.

Last week was All-Star & Bling’s 1-Year Anniversary which drew not only big crowds, but one of the best crowds I’ve seen anywhere together in one place in a long time. Of course our flashy Bling invitations helped to build up the hype. With too many VIPs to cram in one night, we split our VIPs between Friday & Saturday to be able to properly thank our loyal guests with their preferred table and drink of choice. And as it turned out, I saw almost all the same faces on Saturday from the previous night.

And now this week I have organized quite a few events. Just this evening, I coordinated and hosted AmCham’s Young Professionals Happy Hour at Lantung Thai Bar + Bistro. In previous experiences with networking events, I go with the intention to meet a lot of potential new clients, business partners, and friends, but instead, I leave with just a handful of name cards after some awkward and forced conversations. But tonight was different.

It was a warm summer night and Lantung’s rooftop terrace, the Moon Deck, was hot. It was so lively. Everyone was mingling and obviously eager to really talk to anyone and everyone and really make the effort to make the most of this event. I was quite thrilled to see such a nice turn-out during a time when other networking groups are canceling their events all around town.

Just down the street at Block 8, Haiku by Hatsune hosted its first Sake Tasting Dinner Party. After sending out a Facebook message to the Official Hatsune FB Group Members two weeks ago, I got such an overwhelming response of confirmations that Alan decided to host the event twice (again on Friday, August 14).

Both Alan & I were sorely mistaken in thinking the event would only interest about 20-30 attendees for a more intimate and personable dining and tasting experience, as I ended up with a list of 45 confirmed attendees for each Sake Tasting Dinner Party.

But then again, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to enjoy a 7-course menu highlighting Haiku’s specialty dishes together with sampling 4 different sake from Alan’s personal collection?  That is a killer deal!

But product aside (since everyone knows how good Hatsune & Haiku food is), I credit the high turn-out to the fact that we are selling more than a great-valued sake dinner, we are selling a fun and unique experience. You will find the event details below, which isn’t your typical event listing.

Details:

Become a Sake Samurai: Exclusively at Haiku by Hatsune 

Hosted by Alan Wong, the master Sushi Sake Samurai himself, Haiku by Hatsune presents its first Sake Tasting Dinner Party. Learn the culture, origins and significance behind sake and the traditional Japanese art of brewing sake from rice and water. Together with a special set menu highlighting Haiku’s signature dishes, Alan will be introducing premium bottles of sake from his own personal collection. Join us as we show you the path to become a Sake Samurai.

RMB 200 per person includes a special 7-course Haiku tasting menu along with four unique types of sake.

And on top of hosting two Sake Tasting Dinner Parties this week, this Saturday, August 15th is Hatsune’s 8 Year Anniversary Party which will include a private sit-down dinner party at the Original Hatsune on Guanghua Lu and after 10pm, Hatsune in the Village will be hosting the official party for everyone to join with all-you-can-drink and sushi appetizers for 100RMB first-come-first-serve till we pack the house.

Believe it or not, within 3 hours of sending out the e-mail for Hatsune’s 8 Year Celebration, the dinner party was booked up with over 100 confirmations and since then, I have had another 100 people asking to get a spot in the off-chance of last-minute cancellations. You snooze, you lose.  For everyone who wasn’t an early bird, the party at Hatsune Sanlitun Village will be epic.  We aim to top the opening party for a night to remember…or can’t remember. 

This goes to show that not only are there still people in Beijing this summer, they can’t seem to get enough of Hatsune.

I guess I gave Beijingers something they wanted.

If you would like to be included in future event notifications, feel free to contact me directly and I’ll hook you up.

We Are One

“We Are One” was our slogan for Bling’s 1 year anniversary party.  This was quite fitting as we wanted this event to make a statement that represented more than just Bling’s 1st Birthday.  Beyond reaching our 1 year mark, Bling is #1 (Club of the Year!), and ‘We Are One’ Team.

"WE ARE ONE" - Bling's 1 Year Anniversary Party

I was a part of the original All-Star/Bling team- I launched Bling’s audacious advertising campaign, wrote both menus, sourced suppliers for everything from our coat check tags to drink stirs and napkins, and I was on my hands and knees cleaning up the last bits of construction in the club before we opened our doors to the public last year on August 7th, 2008.

One year ago, just before the highly-anticipated 2008 Olympics, Bling became more than an idea, it became tangible, it became a destination for the rich, the beautiful, and the party animals.  In Bling’s first month, we drew in celebrities from Evander Holyfield, Chris Tucker, the German National Basketball Team (who were GIANTS), and since then, we have won the title “Club of the Year” and featured big DJ names from 50 Cent’s Official DJ – DJ Whoo Kid, DJ Spider, and most recently DJ Dopey, the official DJ for Eminem.

All-Star Sports Bar & Grill has been quite a different story.  Unlike Bling, All-Star didn’t take-off straight away.  We had a massive opening on the day of the Olympics Ceremony on 8.8.08, but All-Star’s true success came when one of our owners, Richard Wang, who took it upon himself and his natural culinary skills (no professional experience) to recreate all the recipes for All-Star. Since then, All-Star has made its way to the top winning “Best American Restaurant”, “Best Burger”, “Best Sports Bar”, and “Best Pub Grub”!

All-Star's One Year Anniversary

Here’s a shot of our gigantic birthday cake.  :)

All-Star's 1 Year Birthday Cake

What a year!  And it is just the beginning.

I was there before construction even started, I was there to see it open, I watched both venues develop and become what they are today.  And I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for my babies.

*Stay Tuned:  Hatsune’s about to reach it’s 8 year with a celebration that is bound to be epic.

Date: Saturday, August 15

Time: 10pm

Where: Hatsune @ the Village

Here are some of my favorite photos from Bling’s 1 Year Weekend Celebration:

Thanks to everyone for a great 1 year birthday bash!!!  Together, WE ARE ONE.

Cheers to many more years of great music, great drinks, and great times.

BLING

Soul Purpose

Two days ago, I had a surprisingly deep and meaningful conversation with Riviera founder and PR socialite, Benoit Thebaut. He was staying at Hotel G while I happened to also be organizing a ladies wine dinner in Scarlett.

Our conversation took an unexpected turn from small chit-chat to an immersed and evocative dialogue of our lives and having a greater purpose.  I came to learn a different side of Ben.  Someone who’s constantly in the limelight, organizing the infamous Shanghai & Beijing pool parties along with other top fashion, media events, I was pleasantly surprised to hear him discuss his burning pursuit to make a difference in the world, to uncover his life’s purpose.

And this got me thinking – beyond Hatsune, beyond Bling, beyond PR, what is my ultimate goal?  How will I make my mark on the world?

And today is when it hit me. Hard.

Today, I had an intense discussion about life, but this time, in terms of religion.

Let me paint you a picture of Michelle. Michelle is one of Alan’s 3 summer interns, working in Beijing for two months from UNC, to learn from Alan’s restaurant business.  She’s incredibly friendly, bubbly, beautiful, eloquent, easy to talk to, easy to befriend.  She’s someone I could meet for ten minutes and immediately feel like I can relate to her on so many levels in so many ways.

Before our business lecture, Michelle was describing her previous abroad program to North Africa where she was taught survival tips and explored remote villages and stayed with a host family.  Inquiring more into this program as it sounded like an incredible learning experience, she explained that it was a 3 month program provided to Christian college students interested in living abroad and learning about 2^nd and 3^rd world countries from first-hand experience.

And before I knew it, I found myself engrossed in the deepest discussion with her about her beliefs, her devotion to Christianity, and my non-existent beliefs…in pretty much everything.

I’d like to consider myself as a positive, happy person with strong morals and a strong sense of what is right and wrong.  I hold sound values and standards for myself that have been instilled in me for as long as I can remember.  And these principles are not unwavering, I have learned the value of context through experiences. But overall, the standards I hold for myself are solid and none of these standards reflect God.  I am who I am regardless of beliefs and religion, or in my case, lack of beliefs.  I try to be happy, positive and loving because I believe it’s infectious and it makes me happy to see others smile.

I am Atheist. There, I said it. I used to say I was agnostic because I thought it sounded less cynical.  I thought it was better to say that you don’t know what you believe in than to admit that you don’t believe in anything at all.  But as much as I like the idea of guardian angels, an all-mighty God looking over me, heaven & hell or reincarnation, or some sort of after-life, I don’t.  I don’t believe in miracles, I don’t believe in fate. I imagine these are all creations of very convincing individuals who gave people something to believe in for those needing to believe.

I believe in evolution. I believe in science. I believe that we have developed from molecules and will continue to evolve and change slowly over time. I believe in coincidences, I believe in chance. And after life?  I’m not sure. No one knows, even if they think they do.  I guess when I die, I’ll find out, but I highly doubt either a heaven or hell will await me.  Like everything else in life, you never know what to expect next.  You can wish, you can anticipate and you can guess all you want, but nothing ever turns out the way you want or expect it to for that matter.

Above all else, I believe in honesty, loyalty, and the goodness in people.

But as an atheist, Michelle also made me question my purpose in life.  Why am I here? What do I aspire to accomplish? Why do I think any of us here?

I’d like to think I could make a positive impact on the world, I don’t know what difference I would make, and to be honest, I think it would be rather ambitious of myself to think that I even could.

Maybe that’s the wrong attitude. Is it wrong that I don’t know?  Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in life’s daily, menial takes of e-mails, meetings, dinner dates, and parties, I forget to see the bigger picture.

Even now, I see myself pursuing my life and career in China for at least the next 5 years.  I hope to someday start my own business.  But beyond that?  It’s a pretty blank slate that I hope I’ll figure it out in due time.

Puzzled that I didn’t have a more lucid answer to such a direct question, I return the question back to her.

Her reply:

“I believe that I am here on Earth to glorify God and God can only be fully glorified in us when we are fully satisfied in God.

I believe that God is the most wonderful, gracious, holy thing in the world and I want my life to emulate him. I want to use my skills and passion to glorify this great thing that I believe in with all my heart.  When I do this, I find satisfation in the thing I glorify.

In the midst of suffering and grief and sorrow, I believe that you can find the glory for God and a greater hope.

I want to be more than what I am.  I want to be better, and I know it’s a sin to want to receive more recognition, but I am never satisfied if I try to glorify myself – it only leaves me thirsty for something more. But when I glorify God, who is ultimately beautiful and wonderful, I am satisfied as I believe he is the only one worthy of that glory that I give him.”

It’s fascinating to think that I can relate so closely to someone to discover that we differ so much in our core beliefs and life philosophy.  It does not change our relationship, but it definitely gives our relationship a new light to reflect upon.

And in terms of our existence, our sole purpose in life, are we so different?

For now, I am doing PR for Hatsune and other restaurants and clubs in town, while Michelle does PR for God.

A whole other scale.

As Michelle so eloquently phrased it:

“Hatsune is more than a restaurant, it’s more than a company and it’s more than Alan Wong, its an empire, it’s a philosophy, its wonderful …but it’s not ultimate. God is the only ultimate and the only one worthy of our praise, admiration, and glory.  And the glory displayed through our lives ultimately is all just a small reflection of him.”

After leaving Michelle and hearing her parting words, I have a new-found respect for her and her devotion to God.  I may not fully understand it or agree with it, but I admire her passion in her beliefs and her love for God.

And her words stuck with me.  For the rest of the day, I found myself thinking about the things she said and her beliefs that I found myself full of curiosity.  I had so many unanswered questions.

One thing I did not know before and could not understand was that Christians like Michelle believe that only those who truly believe and follow God with all their heart can be saved by God.  So those of us who are not religious (myself included) and those who believe in other religions have no hope of salvation?

I may not believe in afterlife, but if I did and if there was a heaven and hell, I’d like to think I’d pass with flying colors on Judgment Day.  It bothered me to think that according to her beliefs, none of the good that I could do would ever make any difference ultimately in my fate. As an Atheist, I could spend the rest of my life doing good, being righteous, spreading love and kindness, and I’d still be screwed come Judgment Day.

So I inquire with another devout Christian, my dear PR partner, David Kim, about his beliefs and his views of Christianity.

David’s belief in Christianity is one clear message:

“I believe in love.  Love conquers all.  Just Love.”

Similar to how Michelle described her love for God, David tried to explain the love he feels and shares with others.

“You need to understand this love.  To practice love the way I do, I needed to first understand it.  Through fucking up, in the darkest times, I saw light.

As a child, love to me was just an idea and at one point I even cursed love, I cursed my life, and I cursed God for letting bad things happen to me.  You only understand through comparison. You must first see the ugly before you discover beauty.   For me, it was through the hardest of times when I first saw a glimmer of light through all the ugliness and once I noticed it, I held onto that glimmer and through different experiences, it has led me to my religion.  With anything in life, if you never try it, you never know.  I believe in sharing love with humanity and celebrating life, and that is evidence of God’s love in me.

I am blessed and I never take it for granted.  Some may call it an acquired skill, but I see opportunities and blessings that often come in a disguise. I consider myself pretty devout to Christianity.  No one can shake me of my beliefs and it’s because of that, it makes me an open person and that allows me to love you, regardless of your background and religion.  My faith is a lens I never knew before, it’s a view I hold.  The world could crumble around me and I would still be at peace.”

His thoughts on fate and afterlife?

“I live today.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Yesterday is done.  A profound quote once said by King Solomon: ‘What I am today is not who I was yesterday.’

Because of the love I feel and experience, because I know where I am going (heaven), I can focus on today.  Because of that, I can feel happy that I made someone smile today.  And isn’t doing that good today, worth more than anything?

We are all human. We can’t do everything ourselves. We must rely on one another.”

His purpose in life?

“It’s not about spreading Christianity.  Word should be the last resort of evangelism.  My life should reflect my beliefs.”

And what about me? You talk about love, and because of this love you say you are secure in your ticket to salvation. What is the difference between the love you feel and my love? I may not have found love through hard times, but I believe the love I share is genuine and generous.  Is the love I feel and share different or less than your love because my love is without God?

“You already have God, whether you want him to be with you or not, he is already with you.  I don’t worry about you because you already are saved.”